Dental cleaning spray



Oct. 5, 1937. w. J. HOOPER `DENTAL CLEANING SPRAY Filed Jan. 27, 1936 Patented Oct. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES R-EISSU@ ATENT OFFICE DENTAL CLEANING SPRAY Application January 27, 1936, Serial No. 60,945

1 Claim.

The object of my invention is to provide means to permit the application to the teeth and gums of a relatively line stream or jet of water under pressure, adapted to clean the teeth and to dislodge particles from the interspaoes between the teeth, as well as micro-organisms that may collect at or adjacent to the teeth.

My invention comprises a simple and highly efficient structure, easy to manipulate, and with few parts compactly arranged. My invention alsooomprises the utilization of a removable nozzle, so that my device may be used by different persons merely by replacing the nozzle. In this way each' person using my spray may have his own nozzle which, when fitted to the handle portion, permits the employment of the device without fear of contracting any contagious mouth infections.

The foregoing and other objects are accomplished by my device, which is fully described in the following specication and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a top plan View of my dental cleaning Spray;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, partial longitudinal section of the same taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The dental cleaning spray as illustrated comprises a body A, a nozzle B, and a rubber tube or pipe C. D is a tubular handle member whereby the spray may be easily manipulated and within which the valve for controlling the ow of water through the spray is located.

I0 is a Valve chamber of tubular construction inwardly and outwardly screw-threaded, as at I I and I2, at its inner end. The threads I l permit it to be screwed into one end of the body A and to seat against a rubber gasket I3.

Screwed into the interior of the tubular member I0 and engaging the screw-threads l2 is a valve-supporting mechanism lll comprising the screw-threaded member I5, longitudinally through which a relatively long valve stem i6 passes. Immediately adjacent one end of the member I4 and surrounding the stem I6 is a tubular rubber member I'I adapted to prevent the passage of any water through the member I!! outside of the channel for that purpose in the Valve-supporting mechanism M.

I8 is a valve secured to the valve stem It and adapted to seat on a valve seat I9 on the valvesupporting mechanism i4. Surrounding the end of the valve stem I is a coil spring 20 adapted (Cl. 12S-229) to press at one end against one side of the valve I8 and secured at its other end by a slidable support 2l on the valve stem l, and prevented from ecoming disengaged from said stem by the head 22 formed on the end of the valve stem I6. The 5 longitudinal channel 23 through the valve chamber I0 is contracted as shown at 20 to provide a seat for the support 2l. To one end of the valve chamber i0 the water rubber tube D is attached,

as shown at 25. l0-

The inner end of the valve stem I6 contacts with a spider 28 which is slidable in the channel 2l extending longitudinally through the body A. The inner end of the spider 26 is rounded as at 28 t0 t into an annular depression 28 in a 15 plunger or cam member 29 slidable in a transverse channel 30 in the body A. The channel 30 bisects the channel 2l also in the body A. The upper end of the cam member 29 contacts a circular rubber darn 3l which prevents the leakage 20 of any water out of the upper end of the channel 3B. 32 is a metal plug for holding the dam 3| in place and also to serve as a mounting for a push button 3?, the downward end of which contacts the dam Si and therethrough the upper 25 end of the plunger or cam member 29 to operate the same. The plug 32 is screw-threaded into the outer, enlarged end of the channel 30.

The lower end of the cam member 29 terminates in a reduced portion 34, which is surrounded by 30 one end of a coil spring 35. The other end of said spring 35 rests against the inner end wall of the channel 30, which does not completely pass transversely through the body A.

Sli is a channel passing longitudinally through 35 the nozzle B and which provides a continuation of the longitudinal channels 23 and 21 in the tube C and body A, so that the water passing therethrough may be discharged through the end 3l of the nozzle B. 40

It will be noted that the nozzle B is interiorly screw-threaded as at 38 to i'lt over screw-threads 39 exterior of the projection 40 on the body A. The opposite projecting end 4I on the body A is also exteriorly screw-threaded as at 42 to per- 45 -mit the inner end of the handle D to screwthreadedly engage the projection 4I.

All of the parts of my dental cleaning spray are compact, and while all of the parts fit snugly they are not difficult of access and replacement 50 when any needed repairs are required.

lhen my dental cleaning spray is tobe used, the pipe or tube C is attached to the water faucet (not shown), and the water turned on. The Water is under a pressure of approximately sixty 55 pounds. The water passes through the tube C into the channel '23 in the member I 0 and is checked by the Valve I3 in said member l0. 'I'he end 31 ofthej nozzlefB is then placed in the mouth in contact with the teeth, and the push button 33 is pressed downwardly toalso move downwardly the cam member 29. This movement causes the rounded end 28 of thespider 26 to ride outwardly on the cam face 28 and thereby press against the inner end of* the stem I6, which 'movement causes the valve'l carried by said stem I 6 to unseat and allow the water in Ythe channel 23 of the valve chamber l0 to pass therethrough and into and Ythrough the channels 1i 21 and 36 in the body A and nozzle B, respectively. While the push button 33 is held depressed, the

t flow of water through the channel 361and the end 31 of the nozzle B continues at a rather high pressure, which'rcauses a fine stream of k water to (pass into the mouth and between `the teeth, thus removing any matter lodged on or between Vsaid teeth or onnthe gums in a way that is not in any wise injurious to the teeth, gums, or other portions of themouth. VW'hen the teeth haveV been sufficiently cleaned, pressure on the push button 33 is released and the spring 35 raises the cam member 29 into'the'position shown in Fig.,

l. The spring 20 simultaneously presses the valve I8 onto the valve seat I9, assisted-A by the water pressure.

' device is shut off. Y

Thus the ow of Water lthrough my ing a tubular Valve chamber provided with inner and' outer screw-threaded portions Wherebyrsaid tubular Valve Chamber may be attached by said outer screw-threaded portion to'said tubular bodyV Y l'member and a valve member adapted4 to be threaded into said tubular valve chamber, said valve member being provided with a'projecting portion adapted to operateY said valve member, means normally retaining said Valve memberV in closed position against a valve seat within said tubular Valve chambenrmeans for .opening said valve member, said means comprising a pushbutton, a, cam member associated with said push-YV buttongand adapted to longitudinally'move saidA projecting portion on said valve'member fory dis-`v placing saidvalve member from its seat, thereby permitting passage of Viiuid through said dentalY cleaning spray, and-means -for restoring said valveV l member and push-button to normal position.r

' WILLIAM J, HooPER.`l 

